MANILA – Carl Tamayo came alive in the fourth quarter as THE University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons cruised to a 78-74 win over De La Salle University Green Archers in the UAAP Season 84 men’s basketball semis last night at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
Down 70-56 early in the fourth quarter, the Fighting Maroons leaned on consecutive points from Ricci Rivero, Bacolodnon Harold Alarcon and Maodo Malick Diouf to cut the deficit to 69-71.
The Green Archers widened the lead to 73-71 on a basket by Michael Phillips but back-to-back inside conversions by Tamayo allowed the Fighting Maroons to tie the score at 73-all.
Phillips gave the lead to DLSU for the last time at 74-73 but a three-point play by Tamayo gave UP the lead at 76-74. He then sealed the win with two free throws.
Tamayo finished the match with 19 points, with 12 coming in the fourth quarter, while completing his double-double with 10 rebounds for the Fighting Maroons.
“Ever since hawakan ako ni coach Gold, never niya kami tinuruan bumitaw,”, said Tamayo pertaining to Fighting Maroons head coach Goldwyn Monteverde, who also handled the rookie center at NU Bullpups in high school.
Diouf chipped in double-double 14 points and 17 rebounds, while Alarcon and Rivero chipped in 14 and 12 markers, respectively, as the Fighting Maroons made its way back to the UAAP Finals.
The Fighting Maroons will face four-time defending champions Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles in the best-of-three finals beginning on Sunday afternoon at the same venue.
“Halos buong game, we were struggling on the floor. Pero hindi nag-give up ang players ko and we overcame adversity,” said Monteverde.
Deschon Winston led the way with 26 points, Negrense Mark Nonoy chipped in 11 markers, while Phillips had double-double 10 points and 17 rebounds for the Green Archers.
BOX SCORE:
UP 78 — Tamayo 19, Diouf 14, Alarcon 14, Rivero 12, Abadiano 7, Cagulangan 6, Spencer 5, Lucero 1, Ramos 0.
DLSU 74 — Winston 26, Nonoy 11, M. Phillips 10, Baltazar 9, Nelle 6, Manuel 4, Nwankwo 4, Lojera 2, Austria 2, B. Phillips 0.
Quarterscores: 15-22, 39-44, 51-64, 78-74./PN
